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Check out the Bryan Johnson video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bax8to_s07Q

Last month, entrepreneur and venture capitalist Bryan Johnson released a Youtube video detailing his trip to Prospera, Honduras to receive follistatin gene therapy from the Minicircle Gene Therapy clinic. Bryan describes Minicircle's gene therapy as "a pioneering technology with the potential to improve muscle and strength, slow the speed of aging, and many more benefits".

In this episode, Matt reacts in real time to his first watch of Bryan's video and responds to Nick's questions about various topics that come up along the way. He provides a primer on gene therapy and its potential as a longevity intervention, discusses the clinical evidence for follistatin's effects on humans and model organisms, and goes through several things one might want to consider when deciding whether to partake in a new therapy. He also gives his honest take on "offshore medicine"—medicine performed in countries that lack the regulatory oversight of the United States Food and Drug Administration—and discusses potential mechanisms for safely offering experimental therapies in the United States.

Follistatin is a glycoprotein that functions as a potent inhibitor of several members of the TGF-beta superfamily, particularly activin and myostatin. It is involved in various physiological processes, including muscle growth and development, reproduction, and inflammation. By binding to these proteins, follistatin prevents them from interacting with their receptors, thereby regulating their activity.

Producers: Tara Mei, Nicholas Arapis

Video Editor: Jacob Keliikoa

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Hi, I'm Matt Kaeberlein. I spent the first few decades of my career doing scientific research into the biology of aging, trying to understand the finer details of how humans age in order to facilitate translational interventions that promote healthspan and improve quality of life. Now I want to take some of that knowledge out of the lab and into the hands of people who can really use it.

On this podcast I talk about all things aging and healthspan, from supplements and nutrition to the latest discoveries in longevity research. My goal is to lift the veil on the geroscience and longevity world and help you apply what we know to your own personal health trajectory. I care about quality science and will always be honest about what I don't know. I hope you'll find these episodes helpful!